The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-07-27
THE LEAK.
How the Jaeonards Found It, and
How It was Stopped.


"My pocket-book has chronic
habit of leaking Look at it, daugh-
ter, and note its flabby, detected con-
dition, and yet the next payday will
not come for nearly half month
yet"
Sibyl Leonard glanced up at the
thin bag dangling from her father s
fingers. and laughed lightly. IAN
elephant might have stepped or it. ?"
said she. ''Never-mind, you will fill
it up again, father"
Only to go again in the same mys-
terious fashion," persisted Mr.. Leon
ard. 81 really can not see into it.
My salary is fair and promptly paid.
Joe FELTON, has built hi M house on
the same. l don't smoke, and, of
course, don't drink, but am always
out; never q cent ahead"
Five hungry children, destitute of
clothes except for that pocket-book,
papa" returned Sibyl, still lightly.
But Mr.. Leonard shook his head.
at ought to do that, and more. We
don't take single paper regularly, we
have no books to speak of, and we
never travel any,"
That last sobered Sibyl at once; for
was it not her one longing and desire
to see something beside this great city
in which she had been born, and out of
which she had scarcely gone for day
in her life. How often had she fallen
asleep with visions of tree-shaded
country homes in her busy brain. to
waken Disguised to the reality of their
narrow, crowded tenement. in dusty,
third-rate street, the clatter End roll of
the watercart instead Of murmuring
brooks, and the mill. mans ring and
call in place of the song of birds.
He could have said nothing more eff
fectual to set ner thinking when alone,
this clear-eyed, sensible-looking girl of
eighteen years. Some of the "thrift"
OF Scotch ancestry was rousing up in
fer. Her fathers word "leak" per-
sisted in being suggestive one; and
leaks were always useless, calling for
a remedy at once. They were not
poor, this Leonard family. The head
of it. counting by years, good "sales-
man" with fair salary; his wife, an
active, energetic housekeeper, able to
keep their five children in the public
schools, where Sibyl was now in the
third, and Ralph in the first year of
the high school. Sibyl was fitting for
ateacher, and Ralph after one year
more was to learn business, and had
already begun in q small way as de-
hverer of bundles for corner grocery
near, out of school hours.
They always planned for "good
tlmes'-that was part of the family
creed. What was the "use of living
otherwiseP Only, this last year, lit
Tie cloud, the ''size of mans hand"
darkencd the family horizon at times.
Mr. Leonard complained little of
bad feelings" sometimes could not
eat much, lost sleep and coughed once
In while. Then Mrs. Leonard looked
sober, talked about Aunt Fanny who
died young Sin Decline" and Mr..
Leonard gave attention, as he had this
morning, to his pocket-book.
Father isn't feeling WE'LL" his
daughter said, now.
Nothing but driving himself to
death, like all the rest of them," the
old doctor had said on being consult
ed. "see here, man, give up your
counter and tapes for few weeks; 90
out IN the country and fish and swing
IN hammock, and I'll warrant you a
quicker cure than all my drugs can
glve' and longer life than any insur-
ahce company will book you for,
now."
Dr. Gray must be getting in his
ao'age, Mr.. Leonard said at home to
MS wife. Does he take me for a
millionaire? or think clerks can swing |
around like railroad presidents or Boss |
hnlghtS?"
Il wish you could though" his wife
answered, wishfully, for he looked pale
ana thin. You will have most two
weeks now.' for it was his vacation,
couldn' you run of for just little?'
BLESS me. Mary. no! couldn't think
81 IT. But will tell you what we will
ue' There's an excursion down the
o!F Tomorrow to Grand Beach; round
"Trip only one dollar, and three hours
on The beach. You and | will take |
mat together. Ii won't be much, and
II $ an age since we've had real play
day
Splendid Mrs. Leonard assented,
ana will work my best to-day and
iilish my new pongee suit, and people
VIII think you have blooming bride
at your side, aud with merry laugh.
me wife OF twenty years fastened to
her task.